Compact tackle and utility box

ABSTRACT

A container box and a holder for receiving the box, the holder having a clip so to be conveniently supported from a belt which is worn by a person such as a fisherman, the box being used for containing tackle which is thus located in a convenient and handy location for quick and easy reach thereto.

United States Patent Benward' 51 June 13, 1972 [54] COMPACT TACKLE ANDUTILITYBOX [72] Inventor: Harold Benward, 501 North Eaton Street,

Albion, Mich. 49224 [22] Filed: Nov. 30, 1970 [21]. Appl. No.: 93,797

52] u.s'.c|.....'.....1 ..43/s7.s {51] Int. Cl. AOlk 97/06 [58]'FieldofSearch ..43/57.5

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,591,297 7/1926 Dumouchel43/57.5

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 837,317 3/1970 Canada ..43/57.5

Hart ..43/57.5

Primary ExaminerWarner H. Camp ABSTRACT A container box and a holder forreceiving the box, the holder having a clip so to be convenientlysupported from a belt which is worn by a person such as a fisherman, thebox being used for containing tackle which is thus located in aconvenient and handy location for quick and easy reach thereto.

1 Claim, 5 Drawing Figures COMPACT TACKLE AND UTILITY BOX This inventionrelates generally to tackle boxes.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a tackle andutility box which incorporates self-contained means whereby it may beconveniently carried upon a person s belt where it will always be handyfor quick and easy use to a fisherman. j

Another object of the present invention is to provide a compact tackleand utility box which includes a box member that is removably supportedwithin a holder which is removably secured to a beltwom by a fishermanor other person.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a compacttackle and utility box wherein a utility box may be lifted upwardly fromthe holder for' use, and which is accomplished by a single finger placedtherebelow.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a compacttackle and utility box wherein the holder is secured over a persons beltby means of aclip integrally formed on the holder. V

. Other objects of the present invention are to provide a compact tackleand utility box which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture,rugged in construction, easy to use and efiicient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of thefollowing specification and the accompanying drawings wherein: p v 1FIG. I is an exploded perspective view of the present invention showingthe box and holder separated,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view thereof shown assembled and secured upon apersons belt,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a cork which may be carried within thebox member of the present invention,

FIG; 4 is a perspective view ofa modified design of the holder member,and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectionalview taken on the line 55 of FIG. 4 andshowing the box being removed therefrom.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numerall0-represents a compact tackle and utility box assembly according to thepresent invention, wherein there is a box member 11 and a holder member12.'

The box member 1 1 comprises a generally rectangular container havingparallel front and rear walls 13 and 14, parallel end walls 15, bottomwall 16 and a pivotable cover 17 supported'on hinges 18 secured along anupper edge of the rear wall 14..

An upstanding partition 19 divides the interior of the box member 11into a pair of compartments 20 and 21 into which tackle and otherutility objects may be placed.

As is shown in FIG. 3 of the drawing, an insert 22 formed of cork ismade of generally rectangular configuration and serves as a means ofsupporting artificial flies 23, hooks 24 and the like.

A holder member 12 may be made either from molded plastic or formedsheet metal, the holder member 12 comprising generally a cup-like memberinto which the box member is receivable. Accordingly the holder memberincludes a bottom wall 25, opposite end walls 26, a rear wall 27, a pairof front walls 28, and a rearwardly bent tab 29 that forms a clip forpurpose of being fitted over a belt worn by a fisherman.

As is shown in FIG. 1 of the drawing, it is to be noted that the bottomwall is provided with a notch 31 which opens out upon the front of theholder, the notch 31 communicating with a slot 32 formed between thefront wall 28.

In operative use, it will thus be readily aparent that when a persondesires to lift the box member from the holder member, he may accomplishthe same by use of only one finger 33 as is shown in FIG. 2 of thedrawing.

The finger is placed below the holder in the area of the notch 31 and isthen drawn upwardly through the slot 32, thus pulling the box memberupwardly.

.The-clip 29 will be resilient whether the holder is made of plastic ormetal so that it will snap over the belt in an easy and quick manner.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawing, there is shown a modifieddesign of tackle and utility box 34 which includes a holder 35 forreceiving the box-like container 36, as above described.

The holder includes an additional tab 38 struck out at 37 from the rearwall 27 which has a terminal end 40, the tab 38 being adaptable forbearing against a front side of the supporting/belt 30 while the tab 29bears against the rear side of the belt, as shown at 39 in FIG. 5. Theterminal end 40 is forwardly bent so to fit into a slot 41 formed onrear wall 14 of the container 36 which thus serves'to firmly retain thebox member from falling out of the holder such as might occur when afisherman brushes the device against a limb of underbrush while movingalong a thicket adjacent a stream.

However, in order that the fisherman may remove the box member from theholder at his will, a means is provided so that the box member may betilted away from the terminal end 40, as shown in FIG. 5 and which thuspennitsthe box member to be pushed upwardly as indicated by the arrow42. This means comprises the lower portion of the holder interior beingmade wider than the upper portion thereof so that the lower portion ofthe box member can be pivoted forwardly. This is accomplished by apersons palm 43 bearing against the upward extending front wall 13 so asto cause the box member to pivot about the fulcrum 44 formed by theupper portion of the rearwall 27. Thus the slot 41 disengages from theterminal end 40 and the box member can freely slide upwardly out of theholder.

It is to be noted that a pair of leaf springs 45 on the front walls 28of the holder normally urge the box member 36 to remain in a verticalposition as indicated by the phantom lines P so that the tenninal end 40is in engagement with the slot 41. Thus there is no danger of the boxmember falling out of the holder accidentally by brushing the deviceagainst a branch or other projection while moving in a thicket;

Thus there has been provided a handy lightweight, neatlooking compacttackle and utility box which may be used by fishermen for holding tackleand other objects, or wherein the device may be used by other personssuch as factory workers or others who desire to maintain tools in arelatively handy position for immediate use. 7

The box member may be used for containing first aid equipment, insectrepellent or other devices.

What I now claim is:

1. In a compact tackle and utility box assembly, the combination of abox member and a holder member, said box member being receivable withinsaid holder member, and said holder member having self-contained meansfor being removably secured over a persons belt, said box membercomprising a generally rectangular element having a parallel front andrear wall, opposite end walls, a bottom wall, a pivotable cover securedby hinges to an upper edge of said rear wall, and said box member havingthe interior thereof divided into two compartments by means of acentral, upstanding partition, said holder member comprising a generallycuplike member having a bottom wall, opposite side walls, a pair ofspaced apart front walls, a rear wall and a rearwardly extending tabthat is downwardly bent to form a clip for being received over saidpersons belt, said bottom wall having a notch which communicates with aslot between said front walls. so to provide means for a persons fingermoving upwardly for lifting said box member from said holder member,

. an insert made of cork supporting artificial flies, hooks or tackle,said insert being receivable within said compartment of said box member,a tongue formed in said rear wall of said holder normally flexing towardsaid tab, a lower terminal end of said tongue being receivable into aslot on said rear wall of said box member, said box member beingdisengageable from said terminal end of said tongue by having a lowerportion forwardly pivotable in an enlarged area in the lower portion ofsaid holder so to permit said box member to be upwardly slideabletherefrom.

1. In a compact tackle and utility box assembly, the combination of abox member and a holder member, said box member being receivable withinsaid holder member, and said holder member having self-contained meansfor being removably secured over a person''s belt, said box membercomprising a generally rectangular element having a parallel front andrear wall, opposite end walls, a bottom wall, a pivotable cover securedby hinges to an upper edge of said rear wall, and said box member havingthe interior thereof divided into two compartments by means of acentral, upstanding partition, said holder member comprising a generallycup-like member having a bottom wall, opposite side walls, a pair ofspaced apart front walls, a rear wall and a rearwardly extending tabthat is downwardly bent to form a clip for being received over saidperson''s belt, said bottom wall having a notch which communicates witha slot between said front walls so to provide means for a person''sfinger moving uPwardly for lifting said box member from said holdermember, an insert made of cork supporting artificial flies, hooks ortackle, said insert being receivable within said compartment of said boxmember, a tongue formed in said rear wall of said holder normallyflexing toward said tab, a lower terminal end of said tongue beingreceivable into a slot on said rear wall of said box member, said boxmember being disengageable from said terminal end of said tongue byhaving a lower portion forwardly pivotable in an enlarged area in thelower portion of said holder so to permit said box member to be upwardlyslideable therefrom.